CINCINNATI, OH — No. 25 Texas Tech looks to remain unbeaten in Big 12 road play when it faces Cincinnati at 6 p.m. CST on Tuesday at Fifth Third Arena.
The Red Raiders (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) will play their first-ever road game against the Bearcats (12-5, 2-4) in men’s basketball. Texas Tech enters the contest ranked No. 25 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll while receiving votes in the AP Top 25. The Red Raiders are also ranked No. 12 in KenPom and No. 15 in the NCAA NET rankings.
Game Information
- Matchup: Texas Tech (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) at Cincinnati (12-5, 2-4 Big 12)
- Location: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Tipoff: 6 p.m. CST, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025
- TV: ESPNU (Eric Rothman, Tim Welsh)
- Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network (Geoff Haxton, Chris Level)
Tech is coming off a dominant 70-54 win over Arizona, closing the game on a 13-0 run while holding the Wildcats scoreless for the final five minutes. The Red Raiders also shut down Kansas State late in a 61-57 road win last Tuesday. JT Toppin led the way against Arizona with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Elijah Hawkins dished out nine assists without committing a turnover.
This will be the third meeting between Texas Tech and Cincinnati, with the Bearcats holding a 2-0 series lead. Cincinnati won last season’s matchup 75-72 in Lubbock and previously defeated Texas Tech 78-55 in the 1961 NCAA Tournament.
The Bearcats enter the contest on a two-game winning streak, having defeated Arizona State 67-60 and Colorado 68-62 last week. Dillon Mitchell led Cincinnati with 14 points, three steals and two blocks against Arizona State, while Dan Skillings and Jizzle James each added 12 points.
Cincinnati ranks first in the Big 12 in 3-point defense (26.9%) and forces 12.6 turnovers per game. Offensively, the Bearcats average 72.4 points per game while allowing only 60.6, the second-best mark in the conference. Head coach Wes Miller, now in his fourth season, holds a 75-48 record at Cincinnati.
The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in multiple offensive categories, including field goal percentage (49.6%), effective field goal percentage (57.1%), and free throw shooting (77.9%). They rank 10th nationally in overall field goal percentage and 23rd in free throw accuracy.
Texas Tech is led by Toppin, who averages 16.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, ranking third in the Big 12 in rebounding and fourth in scoring. Joe Williams (15.6 ppg) and Chance McMillian (14.9 ppg) also contribute heavily, with McMillian shooting 47.0% from beyond the arc, the second-best mark in the conference. Hawkins leads the Big 12 with 6.4 assists per game.
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